Constructional toy



Dec. 18, 1934- F. HOULT CONSTRUCTIONAL TOY Filed May 24, 1934 )NVENTOR' FRANK HOULT ATTORN EY5 Patented Dec. 18, 1934 I v v UNITED STATES PATENT orFicr Application May 24, 1934,SerialNo. 727,247 In Great Britain February 1, 1933 v 4 Claims. (61. 4 6 35) This invention relates to constructional toys nel section, a further horizontal girder 3 of angleof the kind which include a number of indisection and a diagonal strut 4 of angle section, vidual parts of various sizes and lengths repthe diagonal strut 4 being connected to the upresenting girders, joists or similar members permost vertical member 1 by means of a con- 5- commonly employed by engineers in the connecting plate 5'. The horizontal girder 2 is struction of bridges, cranes and other struc-' secured to the vertical members 1 by' means of tures. The chief object of the invention is to cleats 6 similar to those employedi n full-size enable such members to be reproduced on a practice, the various parts being provided with small scale in a more realistic manner, the vaholes '7 in the flanges for the reception of nuts 10 rious shapes and sections of the individual and bolts or other suitable connecting members' component parts simulating more closely those, 8, the various holes being preferably so arranged employed in full-size practice, whereby in addithat the component parts can be readily contion to the use of such parts as a constructional nected together in a variety of alternative positoy, such parts will be suitable for use in'techtions to that various structures can be readily l5 nical colleges and schools in the teaching of built up as desired. r engineering. 7 The holes in the various members are desig- The various parts are constructed from a hated by the reference numeral 7, the holes in suitable nonmetallic mouldable material by all cases passing completely through thememmeans of a moulding or equivalent operation. bers, but some of the holes being disposed at The material employed is preferably one of the right angles to the remainder, whereby they phenol condensation products, and it is preintersect each other. In order to prevent any ferred for this purpose to employ the material possibility of the-flanges or webs of the members sold under the name of Bakelite, said name being broken whenthe bolts or other securing being a registered trade mark. The various members are tightened up, the parts may incor 5 members or parts may be moulded from mould- 'porate integral strengthening portions 10 around ing powders of various colours, and if desired each'hole. The holes are formed partially dura distinctive colour may be used for different ing the moulding operation and are subsequently types or shapes of members, so as to designate completed by means of a drilling or equivalent the particular use to which the various. parts operation.

v3 are put in full-size practice. The various parts Although in the construction shown by Figmay be connected together by means of nuts ure 1, the various members are straight; they and bolts or in any other suitable manner demay nevertheless be curved or of any shape sired. For example, the connecting members desired, whilst furthermore in order to give the may each consist of a separable two-part clip, members additional strength they" may be reeach part having an enlarged head simulating inforced with paper, laminated linen, metal or either a rivet or the usual hexagonal head proany other desired material, the various mem-- vided upon a nut or bolt. bers being moulded around the reinforcing Referring to the drawing: material during the moulding or equivalent Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part of one operation.

0 example of an engineering structure which may Although as shown bywFigure 1 ordinary 40 be built up with individual component parts consmall nuts and bolts may be employed for constructed in accordance with the present innesting the individual parts together, a twovention. part separable clip or fastening may be em- Figures 2 and 3 are part sectional views ilployed such'as is, for 'example, illustrated in lustrating alternative forms of two-part sepa- Figures 2 and 3. In the construction shown by .45

rable fasteners or clips. Figure 2 the parts consist of a tubular or female The various component parts may be of any member 13 which is adapted to receive a shank suitable cross-sectional shape, but it is preferred 14 on the opposite member, each part being that they shall simulate girders, joists, and simiprovided with an enlarged. head 15 of hexagonal lar members employed in full-size engineering or other suitable shape resembling the head of do practice, but on a much smaller scale, and as a bolt or rivet. In order that the parts shall shown in Figure 1, which illustrates a number of come together with a snap action when inserted such parts built up to form a portion of an engiin the holes in the members to be connected neering structure, vertical members 1 are shown together the shank portion 14 may be provided.

of channel section, a horizontal girder 2 of chanwith a shoulder or protuberance 16 which is '5 adapted to enter and engage a recess or groove 1'? in the co-operating part, the interior of the part 13 being provided with a tapering mouth 18 to give the shoulder or protuberance 16 a lead when the two parts are brought together. In order to increase the resiliency of the parts one or both parts may be split at one or more points.

In the alternative construction illustrated by Figure 3 the shank 14 is provided with a peripheral groove 19 which is adapted to engage with a shoulderor protuberance 20 provided in the female member 13, the parts 14 and 13 in this construction being each shown with a head simulating that provided on a rivet. The member 13 may, as in the case of that shown in Figure 2, be provided with a tapering mouth 18 to give the member 14 a lead when the two parts are brought together.

In order to compensate for the additional thickness when more than two of the moulded members are connected together the one part of the fastening device may be provided with a series of spaced recesses or shoulders with any one of which the corresponding shoulder or recess on the co-operating member may engage.

In addition to the parts referred to in the foregoing description, various other parts may be constructed for use therewith and formed by a moulding or equivalent process such as, for example, gear wheels or pulleys of various shapes and sizes and other parts, and which will enable the various component parts to be built up into working models of cranes or similar structures.

Although in the construction illustrated by Figure 1 the various parts include integral strengthening portions around the holes, the holes may if desired be hushed with metal strengthening sleeves, the sleeves in the case of a member of channel or similar section extending between the two flanges. Alternatively, the strengthening sleeves may be quite separate from the members, each sleeve being constructed of metal or a mouldable or other material 'and constituting a tubular distance piece adapted to abut at its ends against the flanges of the member at a point where a bolt or other fastening is to be inserted, the bolt or the like passing through the distance piece and thereby locating it in position. Should the integral strengthening portions be omitted, the various members may in such a case be formed by means of an extruding operation.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A constructional toy comprising a number of individual parts of various sizes and lengths simulating in cross sectional shape but on a reduced scale corresponding parts employed in full size structural engineering practice, said individual parts each comprising two flanges connected together by means of an intermediate web, said individual parts being constructed from non-metallic mouldable material, means for connecting said individual parts together in a separable manner, said individual parts being pierced at spaced points throughout their length to provide holes for the reception of said connecting means, and said individual parts each incorporating strengthening portions disposed between the flanges or webs through which said holes pass.

2. A constructional toy comprising a number of individual parts of various sizes and lengths simulating in cross sectional shape but on a reduced scale corresponding parts employed in full size structural engineering practice, said individual parts each comprising two flanges connected together by means of an intermediate web, said individual parts being constructed from non metallic mouldable material, means for connecting said individual parts together in a separable manner, said individual parts being pierced at spaced points throughout their length to provide holes for the reception of said connecting means, said individual parts each incorporating strengthening portions disposed between the flanges or webs through which said holes pass and each strengthening portion form ing an integral part of its associated member.

3. A constructional toy comprising a number of individual parts of various sizes and lengths simulating in cross sectional shape but on a reduced scale corresponding parts employed in full size structural engineering practice,said individual parts each comprising two flanges connected together by means of an intermediate web, said individual parts being constructed from non-metallic mouldable material, means for connecting said individual parts together in a separable manner, said individual parts being pierced at spaced points throughout their length to provide holes for the reception of said connecting means, each individual part incorporating strengthening means disposed between the flanges or webs through which said holes pass, said strengthening means comprising tubular distance pieces located between said flanges or Webs and through which. said connecting means are adapted; to pass.

t. A constructional toy comprising a number of individual parts of various sizes and lengths simulating in cross sectionalshape but on a reduced scale girders, joists and similar flanged members employed in full size structural engineering practice, which individual parts are constructed from a non-metallic moldable material by means of a molding operation involving heat and pressure, means for connecting said individual parts together in a separable manner,

the flanges of said individual parts being pierced 

